Chapter 495 The fisherman’s advantage

The first day of June.

Li Cong stayed up all night and put on the brand new crown robe.

The crown board is made of gold, with twelve bars hanging from the front and back. There are also twelve chapters on the clothes. The sun and moon line the arms, stars are embroidered on the back, and dragons are woven on the sleeves. The collar edge is very majestic.

Only the face covered with scars looked extremely ugly.

"Give me a bigger pearl," Li Cong said, and then repeated, "Give me a bigger one."

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid it will be too heavy..."

"I want a bigger pearl!"

Li Cong didn't like that every time he gave an order, someone would always refute him. He wanted to make a final decision and speak to the truth.

Suddenly he got angry, and the palace people were panic-stricken and hurriedly looked for the pearl. But he suddenly decided to ascend the throne, and the preparations for the ceremony were already in a hurry. The time for the ceremony was already very close, so it was not easy to change the pearl in a hurry.

Fortunately, Li Cong's wife Dou and his son Li Qiu heard about this and hurriedly took out their pearls, only replacing the twelve pearls in front of the crown plate. It was indeed heavier, but it was also more powerful.

Covering Li Cong's face, he looked mysterious and majestic.

Before taking the throne, Li Cong had to go to the Temple of Heaven in the southern suburbs of Chang'an to worship heaven. When he set out at Yinshi, he found that Zhuque Street was already full of people.

The width of Zhuque Street is a hundred paces. In the middle is the imperial road, which was specially reserved for the emperor to pass when he went to the south of the city to worship heaven. The people stood on both sides of the road and watched. There was still a distance of nearly fifty steps from the imperial road. Even if there were assassins, they could not use it.

The arrow hit the emperor's ceremony stand.

"Long live your Majesty!"

With the first shout, when Li Congyi arrived, the people on both sides fell to their knees and shouted, "Long live the mountains."

The intense pleasure brought by the support of everyone made him feel dizzy for a moment. Even though he tried his best to restrain himself, he was still so moved that he almost shed tears.

He was moved by his persistence in Chang'an City. No one could realize how much pressure he had to bear as the nominal supreme commander during the days and nights when he was besieged. Not only did he have to face the rebels, but also the oppression of powerful ministers, as well as the pressure from

The hostility of his father and brothers. Several times, he actually had an emotional breakdown and hid in the deserted palace and cried.

But the sky did not let him down and allowed him to protect the country of his ancestors. Therefore, he offered sacrifices to heaven today to sincerely revere heaven and earth.

The Temple of Heaven in the southern suburbs of Chang'an was built in the Sui Dynasty. It is a circular mound 24 feet high and has steps on 12 sides.

Before dawn, all preparations for offering sacrifices to heaven have been made. A calf is being roasted in the southeast of the circle, and the smoke is misty. In the southwest, sky lanterns are hung, and the firelight is swaying. Chimes, chimes, bells, and more than 60 musical instruments are arranged neatly.

.

Civil and military officials lined up under the altar, and outside were the escorting soldiers. Their figures were reflected in the firelight, no one spoke, and the atmosphere was mysterious and solemn.

Before sunrise, with the ringing of a bell and the sound of ritual music, Li Cong, accompanied by his disciples and important ministers, slowly climbed the stone steps to the circular mound and began to offer sacrifices.

"Wei Tianbao has been in the thirteenth year, and in the Jiawu period of the year, it is dedicated to the heaven and the earth. Today, Jie is in disorder. The Holy Emperor has been tired of the throne for a long time. He wants to pass it on to his body. I am afraid of being unethical and dare not inherit it. All the ministers have expressed their gratitude, "There is no greater filial piety."

"Nothing has contributed more to Jide than Zhongxing." Therefore, I have to hold on to Chang'an and wipe out the rebels. Now I must appease the common people and respect and obey the requests of the ministers. I am assuming the throne of emperor. I respect the Holy Emperor as the Supreme Emperor. I tell you.

God..."

At the beginning of the memorial speech, Li Cong could still feel the light on his back caused by Xue Bai standing behind him. But gradually, it seemed that God had given him a powerful force, and he felt the emperor's power.

majesty.

There is only one voice in the world, and everyone's eyes are only looking at him. He is the center of all things. When he finished his last words, countless people began to echo him in unison.

"I respectfully present the sacrifices and silks, and I would like to use them as sacrifices for you to enjoy!"

"Shang Xiang!"

Faced with such a scene of overwhelming response, Li Cong couldn't help but feel excited, as if he was about to get drunk. Then, he issued the "Edict of Amnesty on the Ascension of the Throne", changed the title of the reign to "Yingshun", and rewarded all the ministers.

First, the Dou family was granted the title of Queen, and each of his sons was granted the title of Prince. When he heard that the third son of the emperor, Li Qian, Prince of Peking, was granted the title of Prince Yong, Li Cong's face stiffened, as if cold water had been poured on him suddenly.

At this time, more than a dozen officials strode up to the circular hill and said loudly: "Your Highness, I have this report!"

The eunuch who read out the decree couldn't help but pause, and Xue Bai, who was about to thank him, also stopped and turned his head to look.

The official headed by him is Liu Zhi, a member of the Ministry of Criminal Affairs. He is the fourth son of the famous minister Liu Zhiji. Liu Zhiji once served as a bachelor of Chongwen Hall and also studied national history. He was awarded the title of Qingguanglu Doctor. His posthumous title was "

"Wen" was a very famous Confucian scholar and historian in the previous dynasty.

Liu Zhi had extraordinary family knowledge and good writing. He was the author of "Zhengdian" and was deeply respected by scholars of the world. At this time, he took out an official document from his sleeve and read it word by word in a slow and powerful voice.

Read it out.

"The imperial edict says: When an emperor is ordered to do so, he must imitate the plan... Li Heng is brave and resolute. He is the commander-in-chief of the army and is responsible for the expedition. He is diligent and diligent on my behalf. This is a great responsibility, so he should be the emperor."

That was clearly Li Longji's edict for Li Heng to ascend the throne. Although Li Heng had already proclaimed himself emperor before this, it was much more legitimate than Li Cong. Liu Zhi was giving Li Cong face, and behind the edict was

The words to attack Li Cong, a "traitor", were not read out, only this was said.

"I confirm that this imperial edict is true. There must be a misunderstanding between the saint and His Highness." Liu Zhi said with an upright face: "I dare you, Your Highness, to welcome Luan Jia back first, clear the misunderstanding with the saint, and then ascend the throne."

Li Cong was shocked and angry, and stood up unconsciously. He couldn't argue with Liu Zhi in person, so he could only tremble secretly with anger.

"I am guilty of death." Liu Zhi prostrated himself and said, "But my boldness is actually for His Highness's consideration. His Highness ascended the throne to eliminate the rebels and appease the common people. This is a public intention. But now that Guanzhong has been settled, Your Highness is robbing the country.

If you proclaim yourself emperor before the return of the saint, I am afraid that the world will misunderstand that His Highness is acting out of selfish motives!"

Li Cong didn't believe these words at all. If Liu Zhi really did it for his own good, he should have spoken in private instead of obstructing him on the day he ascended the throne and undermining his majesty in front of hundreds of officials. He could see Liu Zhi's intention.

Basically, Liu Zhi didn't think highly of him. He was afraid that Li Heng's army would become a rebel as soon as he arrived, so he deliberately sold his name to invite him.

However, Li Cong really didn't dare to kill Liu Zhi. Firstly, he was afraid of his reputation. Secondly, he would appear guilty if he took action, letting others know that Liu Zhi's imperial edict was true. The best way was to comfort Liu Zhi privately.

As a senior official, let’s talk about successfully completing today’s ceremony.

Li Cong pondered for a moment and was about to ask the eunuch to take Liu Zhi down to comfort him. At this moment, Xue Bai opened his mouth. As soon as he opened his mouth, Li Cong quickly kept silent and swallowed what he wanted to say.

"Liu Zhi, you are so bold, you dare to falsely report the Emperor's will!"

"King of Peiping." Liu Zhi bowed first, seemed very magnanimous, and said slowly: "I respect His Highness's achievements and call you the King of Peking. However, the authenticity of your identity has yet to be verified. At least in this edict.

Here, you are still rebellious."

Xue Bai was still walking down the stage, and casually called over a Longwu Army general to give instructions. After that, he scolded Liu Zhi: "You dare to correct the edict?!"

"What is a false edict? This is an official document with the national seal printed on it!"

Liu Zhi was prepared to die and continued without fear: "Even if you kill me, you can't stop everyone in the world from talking."

At this time, the Forbidden Army general Zhang Xiaojing had arrived and immediately went to get Liu Zhi. Liu Zhi was determined to be a loyal minister like Lu Yi and Li Xin, and refused to leave with the Forbidden Army. Instead, he shouted loudly

.

"I would like to ask your Highness not to be deceived by traitors and make mistakes. Now the saint has issued an order to the world, and the army is gathering in the west. The war is about to break out. Your Highness should postpone your accession to the throne for the sake of survival..."

The Imperial Guards tried to capture Liu Zhi, but they allowed him to squeeze in among the officials, causing chaos.

Xue Bai had already walked down the circular hill, pulled out a sword from the waist of a forbidden soldier, and chopped Liu Zhi to the ground with one blow.

"puff."

The blood-stained Nanxia Temple of Heaven.

When Liu Zhi fell to the ground, his eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe that Xue Bai would kill him on the spot when he was offering sacrifices to heaven.

On the hill, Li Cong was also stunned. He first thought that Xue Bai had ruined his coronation ceremony, and thought that it would be difficult to deal with the matter at this level. After that, a strong feeling of discomfort came over him, and he finally realized that today

The support of everyone is not because of him, he has not got rid of his status as a puppet. If it were not for Xue Bai, he might still be just a weak prince in the Ten Princes' House.

In an instant, Xue Bai's decisiveness and courage shattered Li Cong's dream, leaving Li Cong sad and helpless.

Liu Zhi's body fell there, with the document still falling in his hand. Li Cong looked at the seal on it and couldn't help but think, if one day, Xue Bai usurped the country left by his ancestors in his own hands, how could he Yan

To meet a saint?

No, he knew that sooner or later he would be able to regain power and surpass the increasingly sluggish Li Longji, but the time had not yet come.

Xue Bai had already ordered the Imperial Army to capture all the officials who dared to follow Liu Zhi in rebellion, and announced to the court officials that there must be someone behind the matter, and he would investigate thoroughly. Finally, he ordered that the enthronement ceremony continue.

The drum music started again, and Li Cong continued to reward the ministers like a decoration.

~~

"These are the letters and documents collected from Liu Zhi's mansion. In addition, there are also these, which are the confessions and evidence of the accompanying officials."

A series of documents were placed in front of Xue Bai. He looked up and saw that it was Du Jin who had personally delivered the documents.

"Have you seen it at Zhongshu Province?"

"No," Du Jin said, "I'll tell you directly. I don't know how Yan Zhenqing will react."

Xue Bai picked up the letters and read them for a while, then he realized that the man behind Liu Zhi's actions was Fang Guan.

Fang Guan was a well-known official in the world and had a good reputation. He had always had close contacts with Liu Zhi and had a good friendship with Yan Zhenqing. During this chaos, Fang Guan ignored his own safety and went over mountains and rivers to defect to Li Heng. His loyalty obviously also impressed Li Heng.

He was greatly moved. According to Xue Bai's knowledge, Fang Guan is now Li Heng's prime minister.

"If I were Fang Guan, I would not encourage Liu Zhi to cause trouble publicly," Xue Bai said thoughtfully, "but would let them join forces secretly and wait for Li Heng's army to arrive, so they can cooperate internally and externally to capture Chang'an."

"What they want is people's hearts." Du Jin said, "Name is their biggest advantage, so naturally they have to use it to the extreme. If they dismiss us as rebels first, maybe he can regain Chang'an without any effort."

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"War is not just talk. What's the use of such rhetoric? And we are least afraid of public opinion."
To be continued...